Concentrator having sloping reciprocating table with movable deck



March 30, 1948. A, B, BOUWER ET A 2,438,775

CONCENTRATOR HAVING SLOPING RECIPROCATING TABLE WITH MOVABLE DECK FiledOct. 23, 1945 EQL INVENTORS. fidamB.,BoL/rver' Les/1e Do frn, CLTL BY 5M ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 30, 1948 UNITED STATES PAT E. OFFICECONCENTRATOBJ SLQPING RECHE- ROCATING' WI'I H'MOVABLE DECK Adam- BarnardBouwer and Leslie D'orfman, Johannesburg, Transvaal, Union of SouthAfrica Application October 23, 1945;. Serial No. 623,9L- In the Union ofSouth Airi'ca- J uly 20, 1945 .1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to concentrators, for concentrating "mineralsand; the like, more particularly to a concentrator having the form of asloping table reciprocating longitudinally and down the length of whichthe material to be concentrated is washed, having also means whereby theflowing stream is rendered turbulent not only by the shaking, rocking orswinging of the table, but also by providing cells or pockets, havingopen tops and broken or slotted wall areas; said cells covering the areaof, the table top of the concentrator and providing a surface capable ofseparating and retaining concentrates.

The object of the invention is to provide the concentrator with asurface of concentrating cells, each cell formed by -the' combination ofthe openings in afixed' screen and the grooves in a travelling beltforming a top for the table and over which and in close parallelproximity to it the screen is fixed relatively to the belt.

The invention is illustrated diagrammatically in the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Fig. I is a side elevation of a concentrator ac cording to thisinvention,

Fig. II is a side elevation of a small portion of the concentratingsurface on an enlarged scale, showing the combined action of the wiremesh surmounting the grooved and travelling surface of the sloping floorof the concentrator.

Fig. III is a plan view on an enlarged scale of a small portion of thetable top of the concentrator.

According to this invention the concentrator comprises a frame Icarrying a sloping and shaking table 2 with a deck 3 in the form of anendless conveyor belt 4. The belt 4 is provided with a surface 5,preferably of rubber or like flexible material in which are formedgrooves 6, furrows or the like, running transversely to the length ofthe belt 4 and preferably broken up into elongated pockets. The pocketsor grooves 6, by which latter term they are hereinafter referred to, aresuitably sized and shaped to retain concentrates under the concentratingaction of the stream passing down the table 2, as hereafter described.For instance the grooves may be of square cross section with verticalsides. The belt 4 is continuously moved up the slope against thedownwardly flowin stream of material to be concentrated and is thenpassed back under the table top 3. It is washed f-reeof concentrates andreturned for a further journey through the active or concentrating zone.The

table 2 is provided with raised edges .1 bet-ween Which-the belt4-moves. 7 I

Over the whole area of the tabletop 3 of the concentrator isfixed to thetable 2? a perforated covering 8,. preferably of stiff wirelmeshhavingopenings. 91 in, size equal approximately to the distancev I8 betweenthe. centres oi two or three of the grooves 6 on the moving belt 4}"This perforated covering, .8 should be fixed' relative .to the belt. 4,to theframe I and just clear of said belt 4. so. that the holes 9. inthe mesh and the grooves 6; in the belt 4' form in combination a seriesof' open. topped and slotted sidedcells I'I overthewhole tabletop area.

The movement of the table top surface 3 is up the slope of theconcentrating table and against the stream: of material to beconcentrated but care. is taken that the .new material fed to the tabledoes notwash the concentrates from the grooves 6. For this reason theedge of the feeding launder I2 is brought as close to the moving tabletop 3 as possible and the flow of the material onto the concentrator ismade gentle. Bafiles or other suitable means being used if necessary. Inaddition, just above or under the feedin launder I2 the portion of themoving table top 3 may be fed with a stream I3 of clear or relativelyclean liquid to ensure that the feed shall pass down the concentratorand not :be carried up under the feed launder I2.

For the efficient working of this concentrator it is necessary that thewhole table 2 assembly comprising the edges I, the perforated covering8, and the portion of the belt 4 on the table top 3 should shake,reciprocate or vibrate. For this reason suitable mechanism I8 isprovided, pref erably combined with the endless belt 4 driving mechanismIII, for reciprocating the table 2. As shown, by way of illustration,mechanism I 8 comprises an eccentric I9 and pitman 23 connected to theframe I at 2| while table 2 is hung in slings 22. 23 is a bevel geardriving an extensible shaft 24 connected to gears I4. The motor 25provides the necessary power through suitable belting.

Once the moving belt 4 has passed well under the feed launder I2 it iscarried over a driving drum I5 and passes therefrom into a suitablewashing tank I 6 under the table 2. The belt surface 5 is suitablywashed free from the concentrates and the belt 4 returned to the carrierdrum II at the lower end of the table 2 around which it passes for afresh period of service as atable top 3.

The movement of the belt 4 up between the edges 1 of the table 2 ispreferably continuous but the movement may be made step by step.

This invention provides a shaking, sloping table concentrator having atable top 3 formed by a belt 4 having. grooves 6 which, in combinationwith the openings 9 in mesh 8 provide specially shaped cells II andhaving means by which a part of the concentrating surface is made totravel continuously up the concentrating table 2, then be removed fromthe concentrating zone for washing, and reconditioning, and afterwardsbe returned to the lower end of the table 2 for a further period ofservice.

The grooves 6 in the surface of the belt 4 are, as stated above,preferably in the form of elongated pockets I. By thus making thegrooves 6 short in length they are more readily kept in proper shape.They are more rigid and this is important since any serious distortionis liable to displace concentrates which have settled at the bottom ofthe cells ll. j c

The form ofthe cells ll making up the surface of this concentrator isimportant. The liquid in pouring in and out of each cell is madetofboil. Its surface is broken and, for example, no leaf gold isfloated. The concentrates 4 ing or for the renewal of corduroy or othercloths.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a concentrator having a long table sloping longitudinally with meansfor oscillating the table in a longitudinal direction, feedingmeans atthe top of the table for passing the material to be concentrated downthe length of the table and a surface for the table consisting of cellswith open tops, slotted walls and retainin I pockets, said cellscomprising a belt mOVing upwardly against the passage of the materialpassing down the table, grooves in the surface of the belt, an openmeshed screen fixed relatively to the moving belt and in close parallelassociation with the same, said grooves and the mesh of the screencombining toform concentrating pockets.

ADAM BARNARD BOUWER. LESLIE DORF'MAN. 7

REFERENCES crrEn The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent: V v.

'UNITED STATES VPATE' 1s s Number Name I Date 817,655 Moore Apr. 10,1906 1,127,667 Newsom Feb. 9, 1915 2,103,663 Curtis -Dec. 28,- 19372,373,452 Bouwer et a1. Apr. 1 0 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS p j Number CountryDate Great Britain Nov, 24; 1932

